ECE has received planning approval for a new-build residential scheme for Worthing Borough Council to provide housing for Emergency and Temporary Accommodation. Comprised of 11 flats over three storeys, the new purpose-built property will be focused on accommodating women with children for up to a year.
The project is the first Passivhaus scheme undertaken by the council seeking certification, and one of the first in the country for this accommodation type. Passivhaus is a voluntary building standard that can deliver a predicted 80% reduction in heating energy compared to the current building regulations. This approach future-proofs the project to meet the council’s own Net Zero Carbon targets and will create a healthy, comfortable, and safe space for the residents, at an affordable rate in both construction and ongoing utility costs.
Regenerating an existing council-owned site in central Worthing, the project is expected to save the council thousands on B&B costs, ensuring that people will not be housed in unsuitable accommodation or relocated outside the area. The project received funding from the Brownfield Land Release Fund.
The architectural aesthetic will be a contemporary interpretation of the houses in the area, utilising materials of weathered grey brick and green zinc roofing to sit comfortably with the adjacent Richmond Road conservation area. Outdoor space will comprise of communal gardens, with retained mature trees, and on-site car and cycle parking located to the rear of the site. Shared amenity space is provided in a generous secure garden with native planting and wild lawns to enhance biodiversity.
